Touring Series News
Loaded For Bear: Polewarczyk Dominates ACT At Waterford
PHOTO: Joey Polewarczyk dominated the ACT Late Model Tour Waterford 150 on Sunday. (Alan Ward photo)
WATERFORD, Conn. -- Joey Polewarczyk was fired up. He wanted to beat Brian Hoar at Waterford Speedbowl, and wanted to beat him badly.
Mission accomplished.
Polewarczyk, of Hudson, N.H., was utterly dominant in the American-Canadian Tour season finale at the Connecticut track on Sunday, leading the final 136 laps and leaving just seven cars on the lead lap in his third-straight rout of ACT-sanctioned racing.
“I did what I wanted to,” said Polewarczyk. “I just wanted to end the season with a bang, just to make people know that for next year, we’re loaded for bear.”
An argument could be made that Polewarczyk had already made that statement: Since September 25, he has won the ACT Invitational -- from 27th starting position -- at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the Milk Bowl at Thunder Road, and now the Waterford finale. He had also previously won the ACT event at Waterford in August, an ACT race at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in July, and an open Late Model event at Seekonk Speedway.
Polewarczyk passed 2010 ACT champion Hoar, of Williston, on the opening lap, then took the lead from outside polesitter Glen Luce on lap 14. Polewarczyk crossed the finish line more than a quarter-lap ahead of runner-up finisher Hoar and three-quarters of a lap ahead of third-place Luce.
“I didn’t think it would be that dominant,” said Polewarczyk, “but it definitely puts an exclamation mark on the end of the year. This year didn’t start the way we wanted it to, but we’ve got a lot of confidence on our side. It kind of sucks that the year is over now. Next year it’s going to be tight with me and Brian [for the championship].”
Polewarczyk said a quote from Hoar in a Vermont Motorsports Magazine article earlier in the week -- in which Hoar said he would do “everything but wreck” Polewarczyk to beat him at Waterford -- spurred him on.
“You don’t go into a race track thinking that a guy doesn’t want to beat you, obviously everyone wants to beat you,” Polewarczyk said, “but when it gets printed right in front of your face, you’re like, ‘Alright, okay, let’s take this to the next step.’ We worked really hard on this thing all week getting it ready, and it put a little fire under me. He’s got that same fire, there’s no question about that. I’m sure he didn’t want to end the year like that, and he’s going to be wanting it just like me.”
Hoar wrapped up the ACT championship -- his seventh -- with the runner-up finish for his ninth podium finish in 13 point-counting starts. Luce, of Turner, Me., finished third for his first top-ten result of the season. Joey Laquerre of East Montpelier was fourth after a race-long battle with Brad Babb. Babb, of Windham, Me., locked up the Rookie of the Year title with his finish. The unofficial top ten was completed by Brent Dragon, Randy Potter, Wayne Helliwell, Jr., John Donahue, and Waterford Speedbowl regular Jason Palmer.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS -- Waterford 150
American-Canadian Tour -- Waterford Speedbowl, Waterford, Conn.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Pos.-(Start)-Car No.-Driver-Hometown-Laps
# - denotes rookie
1. (4) 97NH Joey Polewarczyk, Jr., Hudson, N.H., 150
2. (1) 37VT Brian Hoar, Williston, Vt., 150
3. (2) 7ME Glen Luce, Turner, Me., 150
4. (3) 15VT Joey Laquerre, East Montpelier, Vt., 150
5. (7) 4ME # Brad Babb, Windham, Me., 150
6. (10) 55VT Brent Dragon, Milton, Vt., 150
7. (15) 02NH Randy Potter, Groveton, N.H., 150
8. (14) 27NH Wayne Helliwell, Jr., Dover, N.H., 149
9. (13) 26VT John Donahue, Graniteville, Vt., 149
10. (8) 17CT Jason Palmer, Berlin, Conn., 149
11. (18) 57ME # Austin Theriault, Fort Kent, Me., 148
12. (9) 5RI Rich Staskowski, Hope Valley, R.I., 148
13. (11) 38CT Joe Curioso, III, Pawcatuck, Conn., 148
14. (16) 42MA Jeff Zuidema, North Brookfield, Mass., 148
15. (23) 11CT Vin Esposito, Seymour, Conn., 148
16. (17) 2MA J.R. Baril, Haverhill, Mass., 148
17. (21) 82MA Mark Hudson, Norton, Mass., 146
18. (24) 77MA Jimmy Linardy, Malden, Mass., 144
19. (25) 35CT Bruce Thomas, Jr., Groton, Conn., 144
20. (6) 15ME Ben Ashline, Pittston, Me., 144
21. (20) 4NH # Chris Riendeau, Ascutney, Vt., 98
22. (5) 16NY Mark Lamberton, Mooers Forks, N.Y., 79
23. (12) 32VT Jean-Paul Cyr, Milton, Vt., 65
24. (22) 88CT Ron Yuhas, Jr., Groton, Conn., 49
25. (19) 47CT Tim Jordan, Plainfield, Conn., 25
PHOTOS:
1. Joey Polewarczyk dominated the ACT Late Model Tour Waterford 150 on Sunday. (Alan Ward photo)
2. Brian Hoar and his 2010 ACT championship team. (Justin St. Louis/VMM photo)
